It seems like it may be years, if at all that there will ever be such an influential couple of men such as Rodgers and Hammerstein that ever have such an impact on musical theater. Their names are synonymous with musical theater and that will never change. Without them, many Broadway stars may not have gotten their time to shine including Ezio Pinza and Mary Martin. It is fascinating how the two never thought that they would ever have a career together and then once paired they would make history from their first piece of work all the way up until their last with infinite fame coming from their many years of hard work. These men still get recognition to this day because many that are trying to fill their shoes and write new pieces of work …show more content…
Not only could he not find another partner, his work after Hammerstein passed away was not nearly as successful. That really shows that solo these two were not able to create the magic that they had together. Many people still believe that if Hammerstein had not died due to stomach cancer, that he and Rodgers could have been able to produce countless more works than they had already made. One of the saddest parts of Hammerstein passing away when he did was that he did not get to see the success that The Sound of Music became. However, his legacy would live on forever as they dimmed the lights on Broadway that is arguably the highest honor in all of musical theater. If it weren’t for Rodgers and Hammerstein, musicals may have always been something that just focused on the songs, which are important, but they helped to change it so that the story being told was just as important as the songs. The songs are just one of the reasons that these men will be remembered as two of the most influential men in musical theater to have ever lived. Rodgers and Hammerstein are still a significant force in musical theater because even many years after their death they continue to make hundreds of millions of dollars from their
Stephen Sondheim is a well known composer in the Broadway community. His rare talent of writing both music and lyrics has earned him a “cult following.” His followers adore him due to his sophisticated music, topics, and approaches; however, four musicals made a particular impact toward Sondheim’s life, and affected his songwriting career. These four musicals are West Side Story, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, and Sunday in the Park with George.
Born on February 8th, 1932 in Floral Park, New York, John Williams has built a fantastic reputation over the past 60 years in cinematic and musical history. Even at age 83, he still composes and conducts musical concerts and film scores. Since 1952, Williams’s success as a composer and conductor has only increased and now he is one of the most popular and successful American orchestral composers of the modern age having created music for over eighty movies such as Saving Private Ryan, Amistad, Seven Years in Tibet, The Lost World, Rosewood, Sleepers, Nixon, Sabrina, Schindler 's List, Jurassic Park, Home Alone, Far and Away, JFK, Hook, Presumed Innocent, Always, Born on the Fourth of July, the Indiana Jones trilogy, The Accidental Tourist,
How was Irving Berlin impactful? Many of Broadway composers or lyricists have changed and made musicals that became famous because of their own unique style of work. Irving Berlin was one of the most popular composers and lyricists throughout the 1900s and still known for his impact on people and musicals that still resonates throughout America. Either known for his unique style of how he played the piano (only in black keys), how his music in theater translated to the people during times of war, he lived a long and fulfilling life.
Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II were an influential, innovative and successful American musical theatre writing team. Oscar Greeley Clendenning Hammerstein II was an American librettist, theatrical producer, and theatre director of musicals for almost forty years. Hammerstein won eight Tony Awards and two Academy Awards for Best Original Song Richard Charles Rodgers was an American composer of music for more than 900 songs and for 43 Broadway musicals. He also composed music for films and television. Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II were an influential, innovative and successful American musical theatre writing team.
Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein ll Ben Sterling - March 31, 2016Richard Rodgers Richard Charles Rodgers was a Jewish, American composer of over 900-1500 songs. He was born on June 28, 1902 in New York City to Mamie Rodgers, Dr. William Rodgers, a wealthy family. His father was a physician. Rodgers remembers his family and a Tense place to live due to bickering and arguing. Rodgers began playing the piano at age six and composed his first pieces in his teens.
It’s Christmas season. Yes. And I am not a Scrooge or a humbug. I DO give to charity. I do not wish to boil anyone in a Christmas pudding, nor stab anyone in the heart with a sprig of holly.
I thought that Sweeney Todd was a very successful production due to the two-way portrayal of Sweeney Todd as well as the intricate musical numbers. Steven Sondheim did a fantastic job of using his numbers to further the musical while at the same time providing enjoyment to the audience. The musical was successful in shaping a gruesome story about revenge and murder into an influential statement about the evil and corruption that consumes the world. The musical used Sweeney Todd to show how revenge consumes someone and dictates their actions, making them commit crimes they would not have otherwise committed.
Although, Hammerstein’s most successful produced a collaboration which began when he teamed up with Rodgers. They teamed up to write a musical. Rodger’s first partner, Lorenz Hart, originally was planning to collaborate with Roger’s in the first place. His alcoholism had became out of hand and was unable to write and produce. Rodger’s began collaborating with Oscar Hammerstein II, who he had before written songs.
George Jacob Gershwin was a composer and pianist. Gershwin’s compositions covered both popular and classical genres, and his most popular songs are widely known. Gershwin studied piano under Charles Hambitzer and how to do composition with Rubin Goldmark, Henry Cowell, and Joseph Brody. He began his career with plugging in songs, but soon started composing at the Broadway theatre with his brother Ira Gershwin and Buddy DeSylva. Gershwin moved to Hollywood and composed many films until his death in 1937 from glioblastoma multiforme, a deadly brain tumor.
“I remember having a grin from one ear to the other for seven minutes. It was a huge, fabulous event – absolutely grand and great fun,” (Leslie Caron, anothermag.com). All who have watched Singin’ in the Rain (1952) or Swing Time (1936) can easily understand Ms. Caron’s emotional state after dancing with both of these phenomenal dancers. This essay will compare the backgrounds, careers, and personal lives of the iconic Gene Kelly and Fred Astaire. To begin, this essay will compare their general histories before and up to the start of their adult professional careers.
One of his friends led to the meeting of him and Richard Rodgers. The Rodgers and Hammerstein team quickly produced in a smash hit. After long and highly distinguished careers with other people, Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein ll joined forces in 1943 to create the most fruitful and successful partnership in the American musical theatre. OKLAHOMA!, the first Rodgers and Hammerstein musical, was also the first of a new genre, the musical play, blending Rodgers’ sophisticated style of musical comedy with Hammerstein’s innovations in operetta.
Ellington left a lasting legacy in jazz as many people today are still influenced by the music he wrote and how he wrote and music is still in his family to the this
Glenn Miller was an inspiration during that period especially as it was during the Second World War. It is also known that whilst serving for the war in the Air Force his plane mysteriously vanished on its way to Paris. As for Duke Ellington, he was also a big band musician, composer and songwriter who composed more than thousands of songs during his lifetime. He performed in films, on Broadway and in regular places with his sextet. Some of his most famous compositions include It Don’t Mean a Thing and
Leonard Cohen has received a page full of awards as a result of creating and releasing a hand-full of songs and albums. He continues to release his work today. As of 2008, Cohen’s name has been sitting in the Rock and Roll Hall
“All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women are merely players,” (Shakespeare), meaning the whole world is like a stage show and humans are the actors. The quote proves that life can imitate art even when it’s not recognized, art is everywhere you look, in places you never thought to look. Theater is represented in any imaginable way, so why is it not good enough for a simple required subject in school? Fine arts such as drama, dance, and art programs get cut from high schools due to the expenses that go into them. People say theater is not needed for the future, no help in the “real world”, and it’s not a life skill.